Texas – A pipeline explosion near Houston erupted in a towering flame over neighborhoods for hours on Monday, forcing evacuations and shelter orders while melting playground equipment. Firefighters struggled to prevent nearby homes from catching fire as the blaze raged on. Operators had shut off the flow of natural gas liquids, but the remaining fuel in the 20-inch (51-centimeter) pipeline continued to burn, leaving firefighters to watch and hose down adjacent properties until the fire eventually extinguished itself. According to Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton Jr., this could take several hours, possibly extending into Tuesday.
Local authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire or the potential role a burned car near the blaze may have played. Dallas-based Energy Transfer, the pipeline’s owner, acknowledged early reports suggesting a vehicle had struck valve equipment but did not provide further details. Video footage from KTRK-TV showed damage to a nearby park and efforts by firefighters to protect adjacent homes and businesses, including a Walmart. Residents in the Brookglen neighborhood were ordered to evacuate, and La Porte city spokesperson Lee Woodward advised the public to avoid the area and follow law enforcement instructions.
The Railroad Commission of Texas has dispatched pipeline safety inspectors to investigate the fire and coordinate with state and local emergency responders. Power outages have affected nearly 4,700 customers in Harris County, though CenterPoint Energy clarified that the fire is unrelated to their operations. The company is working with first responders and will assess damage to power infrastructure once it is safe. Petroleum engineering professor Ramanan Krishnamoorti suggested that letting the fire burn out is environmentally preferable to using suppressing agents, which could release volatile organics. Additionally, the area’s pipeline infrastructure will need thorough inspection and monitoring, though Krishnamoorti noted that the fire is unlikely to majorly disrupt supply chains.
